PICTON PLAY brings together artists, community organisers, young people and other curious residents to celebrate the existing creativity in our neighbourhood and explore new ways of getting together through play.
On the outskirts of Liverpool city centre, Picton is a diverse neighbourhood made up of students, people who are new to the city, and families with strong generational ties to the area. Edge Hill Station, Metal Liverpool’s base for 14 years, is an important landmark in the neighbourhood.
Designed over three phases, the project explores the importance of play – even more so in difficult times – and the unique culture and creativity in Picton.
LISTENING
PICTON PLAY’s first phase LISTENING involved hosting artists in unexpected places – from the 86 bus to a supermarket carpark – in the neighbourhood with residencies, meals, pop-up events and commissions. The ‘listening’ residencies invited artists to exchange knowledge with residents about the local area and its creative people, initiatives and places to go whilst making new connections around the themes of play, sharing, joy and celebration.
GATHERING
The current phase involves GATHERING and sharing what we’ve uncovered during the LISTENING phase. We’re developing creative ideas and projects that focus on bringing people together to build skills, confidence and encourage creativity. These happenings will populate local spaces, creating partnerships and inviting people to look at the streets, buildings and public spaces they see everyday differently.
CELEBRATING
The final phase will involve CELEBRATING at a large-scale gathering for the local community in 2025. The event or project will be shaped by the people and the knowledge gained in earlier stages of PICTON PLAY so we don’t know what this celebration will be. We do know it will be an extraordinary moment of creativity in our neighbourhood.
Get Involved
We want to work with as many local people as we can. Each phase of the project will involve a process of collective decision making with our neighbours and local groups. We’ll be sharing our work at conversation events and dinners, as well as through our social media and digital channels. The project will involve a group of informal advisors who will create a legacy for the area. If you live or work in the local area and want to learn more email edgehill@metalculture.com
Current Programme
Listening Residency | Andrea Ku | Wavertree Botanic Park
Artist and environmentalist Andrea Ku was in residence at the Wavertree Botanic Park and gardens, a grade II listed Victorian park founded by Liverpool botanist and abolitionist William Roscoe. The residency was presented in partnership with Friends of Botanic Park and hosted Andrea until March 2024. As part of her residency work, Andrea has been hosting Dens of Sanctuary, a series of den building at Wavertree Botanic Park. Andrea led nature walks around the gardens area, set up forest play activities and shared skills for building outdoor shelters using wood found in the park. Later this month, Andrea is also bringing her den building workshops to Loving Lodge Lane for the local community.
“It was a pleasure to deliver the den building sessions with the local community at Botanic Park. It was wonderful to see the joy on each adult and child’s face to be involved within the natural materials to create a habitat within a safe space. I have been overwhelmed by the creations made which still stand a month on and are now being woven into the overall park landscape.” – Andrea Ku
Listening Residency | Nicki McCubbing | 86 Bus
Artist Nicki McCubbing was in residence on the Smithdown road stretch of the Arriva 86 bus route. The residency gathered inspiration from travelling on the bus route, talking to people on the bus, and collecting observations and stories. It was presented in partnership with Arriva and hosted Nicki until March 2024. As part of her residency, Nicki has developed The 86 book, capturing the quirkiness and uniqueness of the renowned Liverpool bus route. It celebrates the beauty found in everyday interactions and the glimmers of humanity we experience through community connection. Look out for the launch of The 86 book coming soon.
Previous Programmes
Neighbourhood Tapestry | Victoria Opomu & schoolchildren from Edge Hill, Wavertree and Toxteth | Tate Liverpool
In summer 2023, artist Victoria Opomu worked with students to explore their experiences of growing up in Edge Hill, Wavertree and Toxteth through a residency at Smithdown Primary and a pop-up printing space at Loving Lodge Lane. She shared some of her findings in an exhibition curated by the young people at Tate Liverpool. The exhibition included stories contained in objects that hold significance to the students and their families, a self-portrait wall and large-scale printed landscapes of neighbourhood locations. Learn more here.
Listening Residency | Josh Coates | ‘Big’ Asda carpark
In autumn 2023, artist and organiser Josh Coates created a pop-up community space in Smithdown Asda car park examining the nature of community spaces. Over three weeks he uncovered memories of the community and spaces of significance, as well as exchanging knowledge about existing groups and locations. Watch our film exploring Josh’s residency here.
Liverpool Hip Hop Festival Residency
Nikki Blaze and Tony Broke, founders of the Liverpool Hip Hop Festival, are working with local young people through their residency to build skills and confidence in the future generations of lyric writers, performers and producers alongside events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop.
This is part of Culture Liverpool’s Creative Neighbourhoods programme with Liverpool City Council. Thank you to Asda, Friends at Botanic Park and Arriva for partnerships that supported our Listening Residencies.
